Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment of Postbiotic-Loaded Chia Mucilage–Montmorillonite Films Developed for Food Systems

Emir Çoban, Özlem; Dağdelen, Fethi; Okutan, Tuba

doi:10.3390/gels12020122

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Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment of Postbiotic-Loaded Chia Mucilage–Montmorillonite Films Developed for Food Systems

by

Özlem Emir Çoban

^1,*

,

Fethi Dağdelen

² and

Tuba Okutan

³

¹

Department of Fish Process Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Firat University, Elazig 23119, Türkiye

²

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Firat University, Elazig 23119, Türkiye

³

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Firat University, Elazig 23119, Türkiye

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Gels 2026, 12(2), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020122

Submission received: 3 December 2025 / Revised: 8 January 2026 / Accepted: 27 January 2026 / Published: 29 January 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Food Gels (3rd Edition))

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Abstract

This study presents the development and characterization of chia mucilage–montmorillonite (MMT) films enriched with Lactobacillus sakei postbiotics. The films were evaluated mainly for their antimicrobial properties and practical applicability in food systems. The postbiotic contained 21 phenolic compounds and 60 volatile metabolites that exhibited inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. Incorporation of postbiotics and MMT into chia mucilage significantly enhanced antimicrobial performance. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets were used as a model food system to demonstrate practical applicability, and their shelf life was extended by 9–15 days compared with controls. These findings confirm the potential of postbiotic-loaded chia mucilage–MMT films as promising bioactive packaging materials for food systems, combining natural antimicrobial activity with improved preservation capacity.

Keywords: biodegradable film; chia mucilage; Lactobacillus sakei; montmorillonite; antimicrobial activity; rainbow trout

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MDPI and ACS Style

Emir Çoban, Ö.; Dağdelen, F.; Okutan, T. Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment of Postbiotic-Loaded Chia Mucilage–Montmorillonite Films Developed for Food Systems. Gels 2026, 12, 122. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020122

AMA Style

Emir Çoban Ö, Dağdelen F, Okutan T. Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment of Postbiotic-Loaded Chia Mucilage–Montmorillonite Films Developed for Food Systems. Gels. 2026; 12(2):122. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020122

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emir Çoban, Özlem, Fethi Dağdelen, and Tuba Okutan. 2026. "Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment of Postbiotic-Loaded Chia Mucilage–Montmorillonite Films Developed for Food Systems" Gels 12, no. 2: 122. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020122

APA Style

Emir Çoban, Ö., Dağdelen, F., & Okutan, T. (2026). Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment of Postbiotic-Loaded Chia Mucilage–Montmorillonite Films Developed for Food Systems. Gels, 12(2), 122. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12020122

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment of Postbiotic-Loaded Chia Mucilage–Montmorillonite Films Developed for Food Systems

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